President Hakainde Hichilema has directed United Party for National Development (UPND) officials and adopted candidates in Muchinga and Copperbelt provinces to unite and ensure victory in the August 13 general elections.

​Speaking during a strategic mobilization meeting at Chinsali Civic Centre today, President Hichilema urged party members to approach the polls with caution, describing elections as “scientific.”​The high-level briefing brought together all 14 parliamentary candidates, seven council chairperson candidates, the Chinsali mayoral candidate, and several councillor candidates from across Muchinga Province.​”We have a job to do. We have to win this election. The stakes are high. Every vote matters, and the campaign should be characterised by love,” President Hichilema said.​

He assured members that all friction surrounding candidate adoptions has been fully resolved, urging the party to move forward as a single team.​Earlier, upon arrival at Chinsali Airstrip, the Head of State addressed a crowd of supporters, calling on them to vote for UPND candidates at all levels to secure the continuation of free education and other progressive social programmes.

​The President was accompanied by UPND national chairman Collins Maoma and national management committee member Clarissa Chikamba.​Meanwhile, addressing party officials and adopted candidates at Hakainde Hichilema House in Kitwe this afternoon, the President reiterated his call for absolute cohesion, warning that failure to secure the elections could plunge the country back into political lawlessness.

​”We have an election that we need to win. We have no choice. If we don’t win this election, we are going back to thuggery,” President Hichilema cautioned.​He guided that all genuine party structures must work hand-in-hand with officially adopted candidates to eliminate conflicts, while actively publicising the numerous development achievements of the New Dawn administration.

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